Pressurized fuel burning and air heating unit



Dec. 2, 1952 c GRABER 2,619,954

PRESSURIZED FUEL BURNING AND AIR HEATING UNIT Filed March 2, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 inventor Gttornegs 1380- 1952 c. D- GRABER PRESSURIZED FUEL BURNING AND AIR HEATING UNIT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 2, 1951 3nventor Carl D. GI'CLbQI' (Ittornegs Patented Dec. 2, 1952 OFFICE PRESSURIZED, FUEL BURNING AND AIR HEATING UNIT Carl D; Graber, Orrville, Ohio Application Maich 2, 1951, Serial No. 213,586 8 Claims. 01. 126-110) The invention relates to a heating unit for heating homes and other buildings, and more particularly to a totally enclosed, pressurized heating unit adapted to be operated either with gas or oil as fuel. V

The object of the inventionisto provide a heat ing unit comprising a plurality of horizontal headers, connected by vertical conduction and condensation pipesthrough which the products of combustion of fluid fuel and air are forced, the unit being entirely enclosed within a casing, to one side of which is connected a blower communicating with the cold air return, hot air ducts returning from the upper portion of the other side of the casing to conventional hot air registers in various portions of the building.

Another object is to provide such a heating unit in which the products of combustion are forced through the horizontal headers and vertical conduction and condensation pipes under pressure.

A further object is to provide a heating unit of the character referred to in which the spent products of combustion are dischargedfron'i the heating unit to a chimney, vent pipe, or the like.

Still another object is to provide such a heating unit in which the condensation from the headers and vertical conduction and condensation pipes is withdrawn, through a-trap, and discharged into a drain, sewer connection, or the like.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a heating unit of this character, which the fluid fuel and air are mixed and ignited in a mixing head and forced under pressure therefrom to a combustion and high temperature radiation chamber from which they are discharged into the unit comprising the horizontal headers and vertical conduction and condensation pipes.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained'by constructing theirnproved, totally enclosed, pressurized heating unit in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawin'gsin which:

Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view through the heating drum, showing the improved pressurized heating unit in elevation therein} Fig. 2 a vertical, sectionalviewth'rough the en'- tire enclosed heating unit, taken as on the line "head with electric i gnitidmand. upper poititih or the 2 combustion and high temperature radiation chamber;

Fig. 4 an enlarged, transverse section, taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3'; and,

Fig. 5 an enlarged, fragmentary detail section through a portion of the upper header of the initial condensation section and upper end portion of one of the vertical conduction and condensation pipes connected thereto, showing the construction of port at the top of said vertical pipe.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which similar numerns' refer to similar parts throughout, the" pressurized unit to which the nvention pertains is' entifely ehclosd Within a casing, or shell, indicated generally at I I], which may be fornied' of sheet metal, or the like, as in usual and well known construction of casings, or shells, for hot air furnaces and similar heating units.

Fluid fuel, which may be either gas or oil, is conveyed to the heating unit through a pipe II which enters the upper portion of the casing, or shell, l6 near one side thereof, and extends downward for some distance within the fuel and air mixing head, indicated generally at l2.

This mixing head I2 is closed at its upper end, around the fuel pipe I l, as by the to'p wall l3, and a depending air tube, or pipe, I 4 is connected at its upper end to the top wall l3 of the mixing head and extends downward, to a point preferably slightly below the lower end l5 o f the fuel pipe II, and is located around and spaced from the fuel pipe II and also spaced from the outer walls of the mixing head 12.

A blower I 6 communicates with the mixing head I 2, intermediate its ends, as through the horizontal pipe 11 which extends through the adjacent side wall [B of the heating casing or shell 10. e

The vertical air tube I4 is provided with a plurality of ports 19, at a perm; adjacent to the communication of the blower pipe IT with the mixing head I2, and, for the purpose of regulating the amount of air admitted to the air tube l 4, a rotatable sleeve valve 20 is provided around the tube I 4; and has a plurality of ports 21 therein which cooperate with the ports l9in the air tube It, to control the admission of air from the blower to the tube l4 The mixing head I2 extends'sonie distance below the lower portion of the air tube ll, forming anignition chamber within the mixing head for receiving suitable electrical ignition means,

such as the spark plug 24, which may be electrically connected, as indicated at 25, to any suitable source of electric energy for creating a spark, when desired, to cause combustion of the mixture of air and fuel. A pair of relatively rotatable, perforate discs 22 and 23, surround the lower portion of the air tube [4, forming an air adjuster.

The lower end of the ignition chamber of the mixing head communicates with the upper end of a combustion and high temperature radiation chamber, indicated at 26, and which may be in the form of an elongated cylindrical shell.

If desired, a sight glass 21 may be provided in the side of the combustion and high temperature radiation chamber 26, and extended through the adjacent wall 18 of the casing, as by the reduced neck 28, so that the condition of combustion within the chamber 26 may be inspected from the exterior of the casing.

A horizontal lower header 29, which may be lindrical in cross section, or of any other crosssectional shape desired, communicates at one end with the lower portion of the combustion and high temperature radiation chamber 26, the opposite end of the header 29 being closed, as at 30, and preferably provided with a reduced drain neck 3|, extended through the adjacent wall 32 of the casing and normally closed as by the screw plug 33.

A spaced plurality of vertical, conduction and condensation pipes 34 communicate at their lower ends with the horizontal, lower header 29 and the upper ends thereof extend upward, through the lower side of the upper, horizontal header 35, and are provided with the top walls 36, through which are located the reduced, vertical port tubes 37, open at both ends and extending from a point below the top walls 36 of the vertical pipes to a point above the same spaced below the top of the horizontal upper header 35. The horizontal upper header is closed at both ends, as indicated at 38.

The lower, horizontal header 29, vertical conduction and condensation pipes 34, and upper, horizontal header 35 comprise the initial or primary condensation section of the pressurized heating unit, as will be later explained.

An inverted, U-shape pipe coupling, or connection 39, communicates with the upper side of the upper horizontal header 35, at the center thereof and in the same manner connects to the center of the upper horizontal header 40, which is closed at its ends as indicated at 4|, and which forms a part of the final condensation section of the unit, as will be further explained.

A plurality of vertical conduction and condensation pipes 42, which may be similar in arrangement and number, but of less length than, the pipes 34, communicate at their upper ends with the horizontal header 4| and at their lower ends with the intermediate horizontal header 43, closed at one end as indicated at 44 completing said final condensation section. The other end of the header 43 communicates with the discharge pipe 45, having an elbow 46 therein which communicates with the vertical discharge pipe 4?, leading to a chimney, vent pipe or the like.

A drain pipe communicates with'the elbow 46, and is provided with a goose neck trap 48 therein, and then extends downwardly, as at 46, for connection to a drain or sewer connection.

A blower 56, of any conventional type, communicates with the casing, or shell, l0 through an opening 5| in the adjacent vertical wall 52 of said casing, and is connected to the blower end of the cold air return flue 53, which may communicate with a conventional cold air register or registers in the house, as in usual practice.

A vertical partition wall 54 extend longitudinally through the casing or shell I6 between the vertical conduction and condensation pipes 34 and 42 of the initial and final condensation sections respectively, as best shown in'Fig. 2, and is provided with a plurality of ports 55.

A partition wall, provided with a plurality of louvers 56, is located within the casing ID, on the opposite side of the vertical pipes 34, of the initial condensation section, and spaced from the adjacent side wall 51 of the casing, and a hot air discharge outlet 58 communicates with the upper end of the casing, between the louvered partition and the adjacent side wall 51, for connection to any suitable number, and arrangement, of hot air flues, which may lead to hot air registers in difierent rooms of the house, as in conventional practice.

In the operation of the improved, pressurized heating unit, fuel is admitted to the mixing head I2, through the fuel pipe 1 l, and air under pressure is admitted, from the blower l6, through the blower pipe [1, to the mixing head, the air and fuel being mixed under. pressure in the lower portion of the mixing head where the mixture is ignited by the electric ignition device 24 and discharged into the combustion and high temperature radiation chamber 26 where it burns with great turbulence creating perfect combustion.

As this hot mass of turbulent gas passes downward to the lower horizontal header 29, the gas loses the greatest part of its heat, through radiation and conduction through the walls of the combustion and high temperature radiation chamber, and the hot gases are greatly reduced in temperature and volume as they enter the lower header 29, where this volume of lowered heat gas is then divided u into a number of smaller volumes as they enter the several vertical conduction and condensation pipes 34 The CO2 and H20 partially separate at this point, collecting the H2O as water of condensation within the vertical pipes 34 and lower header 29, while the CO2 passes upward, through the pipes 34 and into the upper, horizontal header 35, through the reduced ports 31, which create a pressure drop, the heat of condensation passing into the walls of the pipes.

These ports also produce turbulence in the water vapor draining the water back down into the pipes 34 and lower header 29 of the initial or primary condensation section, thus mixing larger volumes of hot gases with water vapor which is, of course, a greater heat conductor, in a smaller volume, than hot gases.

As the gas, with the residual steam, passes through the ports 31 the water vapor condenses into water in the upper header.35, this header acting as a water reservoir slowly feeding the water back down through the vertical pipes 34, to the lower header 29 as the water in the. upper header 35 reachesthe top of the ports 31.

This water, as it passes down through the pipes 34 to the lower header 35, is again turned back into water vapor, by contact with the incoming hot gases from the combustion and high tempera ture radiation chamber 26, thus using up more of the hot gases coming into the lower header29,

and reducing their volume. 1

The gases will pass through the inverted U- shape connection 39 from the upper header 35 acro at of the initial condensation section, to the upper header 4!] of the final condensation section of the heating unit. As the operation continues surplus water, in the form of Vapor, will pass from the upper header 35 of the first section of the heating unit, into the final condensation section, by the cooled gases going through the unit at high velocity, thus keeping the unit in perfect balance at all times.

The final condensation section of the unit comprises the upper header 40, intermediate header 43 and vertical pipes 42, reducing the temperature of the steam further, so that at the exhaust 47 thereof, there are less gases in volume leaving with free water, than enter the mixing head l2 before ignition, thus producing a highly eflicient heating unit.

The blower to provides a continual blast of air over the entire heating unit, picking up heat from the first condensation section, and final condensation section thereof, as well as from the combustion and high temperature radiation chamber, the air blast being uniformly spread throughout the entire casing, by means of the perforate partition wall 54 and the louvered partition wall 56, so that the maximum of heat exchange is obtained thereby, and the heated air is discharged through the outlet 58 to the hot air fiues leading to registers throughout the house.

I claim:

1. A heating unit including means forming mixing chamber, means for admitting air under condensation section comprising a horizontal lower header communicating at one end with the lower end of the combustion chamber, a plurality of upright conduction and condensation pipes communicating at their lower ends with the lower header, a horizontal upper header communicating with the upper ends of the upright pipes, a final condensation section comprising spaced horizontal upper and intermediate headers, upright conduction and condensation pipes connecting said last namedheaders, an inverted U-shape pipe connecting the upper headers of both condensation sections, a discharge pipe communicating with the intermediate header, a casing entirely enclosing said heating unit, a blower communicating with one side of said casing and a hot air discharge outlet at the upper portion of the opposite side ofthe: casing.

2. A heating unit including means forming a mixing chamber, means for admitting air under pressure and fluid fuel to the mixing chamber, means for igniting said mixture, means forming a combustion chamber communicating at its upper end with the mixing chamber, an initial condensation section comprising a horizontal lower header communicating at one end with the lower end of the combustion chamber, a plurality of upright conduction and condensation pipes communicating at their lower ends with the lower header, a horizontal upper header communieating with the upper ends of the upright pipes, a final condensation section comprising spaced horizontal upper and intermediate headers, upright conduction and condensation pipes connecting said last named headers, an inverted U- shape pipe connecting the upper headers of both condensation sections, a discharge pipe communicating with the intermediate header, casing entirely enclosing said heating unit, a perforate partition wall within the casing between the initial condensation section and the final condensation section, a blower 'communicating with one side of said ca-si g and a hot air discharge outlet at the upper portion of the opposite side of the casing.

3. A heating unit including means forming a mixing chamber, means for admitting air under pressure and fluid fuel to the mixing chamber, means for igniting said mixture, means forming a combustion chamber communicating at its upper end with the mixing chamber, an initial condensation section comprising a horizontal lower header communicating at one end with the lower end of the combustion chamber, a plurality of upright conduction and condensation pipes, communicating at their lower ends with the lower header, a horizontal upper header communicating with the upper ends of the upright pipes, a final condensation section comprising spaced horizontal upper and intermediate headers, upright conduction and condensation pipes connecting said last named headers, an inverted U-shape pipe connecting the upper headers of both condensation sections, a discharge pipe communicating with the intermediate header, casing entirely enclosing said heating unit, a blower communicating with one side of said casing and a hot air discharge outlet at the upper portion of the opposite side of the casing, and a plurality of louvers within the casing between the heating unit and the hot air discharge outlet.

4. A heating unit including means forming a mixing chamber, means for admitting air under pressure and fluid fuel to the mixing chamber, means for igniting said mixture, means forming a combustion chamber communicatin at its upper end with the mixing chamber, an initial condensation section comprising a horizontal lower header communicating at one end with the lower end of the combustion chamber, a plurality of upright conduction and condensation pipes communicatin at their lower ends with the lower header, a horizontal upper header communicating with the upper ends of the upright pipes, at final condensation section comprising spaced horizontal upper and intermediate headers, upright conduction and condensation pipes connecting said last named headers, an inverted U-shape pipe connecting the upper headers of both, condensation sections, a discharge pipe communicating with the intermediate header, a casing entirely enclosing said heating unit, a perforate partition wall within the casing between the initial condensation section and the final condensation section, a blower communicating with one side of said casing, a hot air discharge outlet at the upper portion of the opposite side of the casing, and a plurality of louvers Within the casing between the heating unit and the hot air discharge outlet.

5. A heating unit including means forming a admitting air under municating at their lower ends with the lower header, a horizontal upper header communicating with the upper ends of the upright pipes, a final condensation section comprising spaced horizontal upper and intermediate headers, upright conduction and condensation pipes connecting said last named headers, an inverted U-shape pipe connecting the upper headers of both condensation sections, a casing entirely enclosing said heating unit, a spent gas discharge pipe connected to said intermediate header and extended outside of the casing, adrain pipe connected to said intermediate header, a blower communicating with one side of said casing and a hot air discharge outlet at the upper portion of the opposite side of the casing.

6. A heating unit including means forming a mixing chamber, means for admitting air under pressure and fluid fuel to the mixin chamber, means for igniting said mixture, means forming a combustion chamber communicating at its upper end with the mixing chamber, an initial condensation section comprising a horizontal lower header communicating at one end with the lower end of the combustion chamber, a plurality of upright conduction and condensation pipes communicating at their lower ends with the lower header, a horizontal upper header communicating with the upper ends of the upright pipes, a final condensation section comprising spaced horizontal upper and intermediate headers, upright conduction and condensation pipes connecting said last named headers, an inverted U-shape pipe connecting the upper headers of both condensation sections, a casing entirely enclosing said heating unit, a spent gas discharge pipe connected to said intermediate header and extended outside of the casing, a drain pipe connected to said intermediate header, a trap in said drain pipe, a blower communicating with one side of said casing and a hot air discharge outlet at the upper portion of the opposite side of the casing,

'7. A heating unit including means forming a mixing chamber, means for admitting air under pressure and fluid fuel to the mixing chamber, means for igniting said mixture, means forming a combustion chamber communicating at its upper end with the mixing chamber, an initial condensation section comprising a horizontal lower header communicating at one end with the lower end of the combustion chamber, a plurality of upright conduction and condensation pipes communicating at their lower ends with the lower header, a horizontal upper header communicating with the upper ends of the upright pipes, the upper ends of said upright pipes being closed, re-

duced ports in said closed upper ends extended upward to a point above the bottom of said upper header, a final condensation section comprising spaced horizontal upper and intermediate headers, upright conduction and condensation pipes connecting said last named headers, an inverted U-shape pipe connecting the upper headers of both condensation sections, 9, discharge pipe communicating with the intermediate header, a casing entirely enclosing said heating unit, a blower communicating with one side of said casing and a hot air discharge outlet at the upper portion of the opposite side of the casing.

8. A heatin unit including means forming a mixing chamber, means for admitting air under pressure and fluid fuel to the mixing chamber, means for igniting said mixture, means forming a combustion and high temperature radiation chamber communicating at its upper end with said mixing chamber, an initial condensation section comprising a horizontal lower header com municating at one end with the lower end of the combustion and high temperature radiation chamber, a plurality of upright conduction and condensation pipes communicating at their lower ends with the lower header, a horizontal upper header communicating with the upper ends of the upright pipes, a final condensation section comprising spaced horizontal upper and intermediate headers, upright conduction and condensation pipes connecting said last named headers, an inverted U-shape pipe connecting the upper headers of both condensation sections, a casing en tirely enclosing said heating unit, a perforate partition wall within the casings between the initial condensation section and the final condensation section, a blower communicating with one side of said casing, a hot air discharge outlet at the upper portion of the opposite side of the casing, a spent gas discharge pipe connected to said intermediate header and extended outside of the casing, a drain pipe connected to said intermediate header and a trap in said drain pipe.

CARL D. GRABER.

REFERENCES cheap The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

